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Alness manufacturer continues to gain global recognition

21 November 2012

An Alness company which recently purchased its manufacturing facility is experiencing a dramatic increase in the growth of its international exports.

Porex Technologies Ltd manufactures high performance porous plastic parts which are used in everything from electronic products such as smoke detector and electric toothbrushes to medical and bioscience devices such as dialysis systems and DNA research equipment.

In the last year, Porex has gone from strength to strength and has seen a 40 percent sales boost on the previous year and now turns over £3.2m, with 2013 forecasted to continue to grow.

The company purchased the manufacturing facility based at Alness Point Business Park last year, which was previously leased from Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE). Funding of £76,680 was awarded to Porex from HIE towards revenue costs to increase and develop international activity as well as new markets.

The funding also supported the creation of new development positions within the company. This complemented a £175,000 award through Regional Selective Assistance (RSA) in January 2011 for capital projects.

The company is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Porex Corporation, which has its headquarters in Atlanta Georgia, USA. Porex serves over 1,300 customers in more than 65 countries worldwide from manufacturing facilities in the United States, Germany, Scotland, and Malaysia and last year it celebrated its 50th year in business.

Porex has existed in Alness since 1994 and now employs 21 people at its facility with a team boasting over 20 years of experience in design, development, production, and distribution, serving global markets.

With 95 percent of its products now being exported outwith the UK, Managing Director, Andrew Maclennan said that the purchase of the building last year was a real turning point.

Andrew said: “The financial support from HIE and SDI has supported us with our growth plans and has enabled us to expand our international sales by adding key development resources to the local business. There are huge opportunities with companies and markets outwith the UK and our products continues to gain recognition in these areas.

As the business continues to grow at a very fast rate, we will be expanding our needs in all areas which will ultimately lead to new job opportunities and new capital equipment spend. This combined, will continue our support in the economic growth of the Highlands.”

Rhona Fraser, Head of Business Growth at HIE, said: "The funding from HIE and RSA has helped the company drive sales forward and expand its international markets from their Alness base. Porex Technologies Ltd has real ambitions to grow the business which has a wealth of economic benefit for both the region as well as the life science sector.”